The Texas Delivery & Registration Process

I'm sure this has probably been chatted about before but I figured I'd just ask and perhaps get a more recent take on it. Our new Model S90D will be shipped to Austin late next week and we anticipate taking delivery the following week.

Can someone who has recently gone through the process explain the whole enchilada to me?
You get the temporary registration sticker from California but what does that do for you?
I know you can apply for a 30-day temporary permit while you work to get the car registered but when should you apply for it? I'm just trying to figure out what all is needed after taking custody of the car, driving around Austin and back to San Antonio without getting stopped for breaking the law?

Nothing has changed. It's legal to drive with the California temporary sticker for 30 days, but some law enforcement officers misunderstand and issue citations for it - the citation will be thrown out in court, but you can save yourself the potential grief by getting the Texas Vehicle Transportation Permit. It's $25: https://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/TempPermit/#nbb

I'm sure this has probably been chatted about before but I figured I'd just ask and perhaps get a more recent take on it. Our new Model S90D will be shipped to Austin late next week and we anticipate taking delivery the following week.

Can someone who has recently gone through the process explain the whole enchilada to me?
You get the temporary registration sticker from California but what does that do for you?
I know you can apply for a 30-day temporary permit while you work to get the car registered but when should you apply for it? I'm just trying to figure out what all is needed after taking custody of the car, driving around Austin and back to San Antonio without getting stopped for breaking the law?

Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

Having just taken delivery in Austin on 8 August in the new facility, this is what will happen.

1) You will get an email from your DS. detailing the steps forward.

2) assuming you Finance all or part, within 30 days of your delivery you will secure financing. I did Alliant. The online app was easy and had a phone call with Alliant to complete te loan process. Phone call took 10 minutes. If cash then you have your bank transfer ready before step 4. You don't have to pay until step 4.

3) You will get a FEDEX package from TESLA with your California temporary registration paperwork about 10 days prior to estimated delivery. I did NOT have to sign for it. It will ask you to sign some documents and place them in a return fedex envelope. Your California Temp tag is in that package. Don't send it back

4) Your DS (Krystal for me) will give you an expected date of delivery. They will not let the car cross the Texas border without being paid in full. I have heard things in Dallas may be different. I paid up and it would have been delivered three days after payment (I deferred due to vacation).

5) If you have a trade in, they will give you an initial estimate. You will then take pictures to confirm conditions. My estimate was High end of fair condition. I expected that because my car had been in an accident (but repaired). I may have gotten $500 or so going with Car max or more with Private Sale (2010 Prius), but it was not worth the hassle.

6) My Delivery was on a Monday, At delivery,they did at best a cursory view of trade in and had me sign trade in paperwork. They probably faxed that paperwork to California. We got the tour of the car and the keys. I hit accept delivery on her iPad. Tesla App and Slacker were active in less than 30 minutes. That was on a Monday. While at the Delivery center, I bought a tire kit ($50) and a CHAdeMO adapter. They had both in stock. Saved me the shipping cost. My goodie bag was an umbrella, pin, pen, mug, and Tesla Service card. They should deliver your car charged. Mine was not due to opening day glitches.

7) I drove the car home and the next day- Tuesday - to Jay's Detailing for XPel, Cquartz and tinting. Picked it up that Friday.

8) That Wednesday I received all my final paperwork from Tesla to register my car through FedEx overnight. Certificate of Origin, etc.

9) Your car will already have an inspection document in the glove compartment

10) I will take my car to the County Tax office on Monday and write them a big ol check and they will do the paperwork to Title the car in Texas and I will take my plates from my old car that I had Tesla remove and put them on my new one (or you can get new plates).

11)There are some here that have tried and a few successfully (for now) to get it registered as a car that can be powered by hydrogen, I do not believe this meets the intent or wording of the statute, but I am a Georgia lawyer who now lives in Texas and you do what you wish.

A few things you may want to think about ahead of time. The center console Apple dock is will not fit an iPhone while it is in the case. You may want to buy a lightning connector to lightning connector adapter. I bought this (has not arrived yet):

I would assume there would be the same issue with Android and cases and the on-board phone charger.

- Plan how you will inspect your car. I had a finish problem that they were able to quickly fix.

- Have your HPWC installed. I am waiting for my electrician to install because I ordered late and it took them a long time to deliver it. I am charging on 30 amps and it is pedestrian. My builder will find out why the electrician only put a 30 amp fuse on my NEMA 14-50 outlet, but until it is fixed I can only charge at 30 amps not 40, let alone 72.

-The default for TESLA is for you to sign for (almost) everything, I live in an area where that is unnecessary, but I did not change my preferences with TESLA. I am not sure I would want my final registration paperwork subject to the crazy Texas weather. I had it delivered to a FEDEX office and picked it up on the way home. Very easy.

12) if you have Sirius/XM, be prepared for the colonoscopy of switching service to a new radio if you had service in your trade in. It took over an hour to get it done.

13) the day after delivery, your DS will (probably, Krystal did) send you links with helpful information and contact numbers.

Really appreciative for the detailed info! I pick my Tesla up this Saturday in Austin, TX SC. I researched the forum to see if I could register my EV prior to picking it up for the reasons a few mentioned, but more importantly, to get ahead of possible headaches with lines, at the DMV and the LAW. Anyway, I've emailed the Tesla folks for my UserID and password to my SlackerRadio acct, and they replied back very fast! I am applying settings per my preference and also adjusting premium sound output (Got that info from the forum as well).

Is there any information in Texas if one wanted to order customized plates for EV's? Wonder will the DMV allow me to do this without the vehicle being physically in my custody? I understand the 6.25% sales tax, but I don't like the run around with State Tax incentives for Tesla in TX. - WHEW! Texas legislatures really need to stop playing around with EV's, and allow a free market.

THANKS AGAIN! for the detailed info. BTW.... Kristal was my DS as well! Alliant was the bank I chose with 1.99% APR w/ Jon being the loan officer! These two people really are professional - and have their smart hats on helping consumers!

Finally, I will be driving back down to San Antonio (Stone Oak area) on Saturday with my new TOY! I will use the same folks you mention above for car detailing!

Having just taken delivery in Austin on 8 August in the new facility, this is what will happen.

1) You will get an email from your DS. detailing the steps forward.

2) assuming you Finance all or part, within 30 days of your delivery you will secure financing. I did Alliant. The online app was easy and had a phone call with Alliant to complete te loan process. Phone call took 10 minutes. If cash then you have your bank transfer ready before step 4. You don't have to pay until step 4.

3) You will get a FEDEX package from TESLA with your California temporary registration paperwork about 10 days prior to estimated delivery. I did NOT have to sign for it. It will ask you to sign some documents and place them in a return fedex envelope. Your California Temp tag is in that package. Don't send it back

4) Your DS (Krystal for me) will give you an expected date of delivery. They will not let the car cross the Texas border without being paid in full. I have heard things in Dallas may be different. I paid up and it would have been delivered three days after payment (I deferred due to vacation).

5) If you have a trade in, they will give you an initial estimate. You will then take pictures to confirm conditions. My estimate was High end of fair condition. I expected that because my car had been in an accident (but repaired). I may have gotten $500 or so going with Car max or more with Private Sale (2010 Prius), but it was not worth the hassle.

6) My Delivery was on a Monday, At delivery,they did at best a cursory view of trade in and had me sign trade in paperwork. They probably faxed that paperwork to California. We got the tour of the car and the keys. I hit accept delivery on her iPad. Tesla App and Slacker were active in less than 30 minutes. That was on a Monday. While at the Delivery center, I bought a tire kit ($50) and a CHAdeMO adapter. They had both in stock. Saved me the shipping cost. My goodie bag was an umbrella, pin, pen, mug, and Tesla Service card. They should deliver your car charged. Mine was not due to opening day glitches.

7) I drove the car home and the next day- Tuesday - to Jay's Detailing for XPel, Cquartz and tinting. Picked it up that Friday.

8) That Wednesday I received all my final paperwork from Tesla to register my car through FedEx overnight. Certificate of Origin, etc.

9) Your car will already have an inspection document in the glove compartment

10) I will take my car to the County Tax office on Monday and write them a big ol check and they will do the paperwork to Title the car in Texas and I will take my plates from my old car that I had Tesla remove and put them on my new one (or you can get new plates).

11)There are some here that have tried and a few successfully (for now) to get it registered as a car that can be powered by hydrogen, I do not believe this meets the intent or wording of the statute, but I am a Georgia lawyer who now lives in Texas and you do what you wish.

A few things you may want to think about ahead of time. The center console Apple dock is will not fit an iPhone while it is in the case. You may want to buy a lightning connector to lightning connector adapter. I bought this (has not arrived yet):

I would assume there would be the same issue with Android and cases and the on-board phone charger.

- Plan how you will inspect your car. I had a finish problem that they were able to quickly fix.

- Have your HPWC installed. I am waiting for my electrician to install because I ordered late and it took them a long time to deliver it. I am charging on 30 amps and it is pedestrian. My builder will find out why the electrician only put a 30 amp fuse on my NEMA 14-50 outlet, but until it is fixed I can only charge at 30 amps not 40, let alone 72.

-The default for TESLA is for you to sign for (almost) everything, I live in an area where that is unnecessary, but I did not change my preferences with TESLA. I am not sure I would want my final registration paperwork subject to the crazy Texas weather. I had it delivered to a FEDEX office and picked it up on the way home. Very easy.

12) if you have Sirius/XM, be prepared for the colonoscopy of switching service to a new radio if you had service in your trade in. It took over an hour to get it done.

13) the day after delivery, your DS will (probably, Krystal did) send you links with helpful information and contact numbers.

Actually, you can order the plates before you register the car, at least from MyPlates. All you need is the VIN and basic info. I ordered 2-3 weeks before delivery and the plates were waiting at the tax office. One thing to note is that the plates will be sent to the main tax office, not a satellite office. Make sure to confirm the delivery location when you order.

Watch for the look on the cashier's face when they see the sales tax amount. Mine almost choked. She didn't know what a Tesla was.